Sewing machine work-support



F. M. CARD Dean 6, 1932.

SEWING MACHINE WORK SUPPORT Original Filed May 28, 1950 I INVENTOR.@?14. 6 BYJ- A TTORNE Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEFREDERIG M. CARD, 0F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGERMANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY SEWING MACHINE WORK-SUPPORT Original application filed May 28,1930, Serial No. 456,380. Divided and this application filed July 16,

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machine work-supportsand has for its primary object to provide, in a simple manner,work-supporting means which will minimize distortion of the workresulting from the anchoring of the seam-forming stitches, and whichwill also serve to assist in the control of the thread-chain whenchaining-ofi between successively stitched articles. A further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved fabric-margin supporting devicein a sewing machine adapted to join abutted or slightly overlappingfabric-margins.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, together withmeans whereby the same may be carried into efiect, will best beunderstood from the following description of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the work-support,presser-foot and trlmming mechanism of a sewing machine containing apreferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2- is a sectional view ofthe worksupporting and feeding means, together with a side elevation,partly in section, of the presser-foot. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of thethroat-plate and of the improved fabricmargin supporting member appliedthereto. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the resser-foot shoes.

As described in my prior patent application Serial No. 456,380, filedMay 28, 1930, of which this application is a division, the invention isillustrated as embodied in a sewing machine having a work-supportingpost 1, upon the upper end of which a throatplate 2 is secured by thescrews 3. The throat-plate has a plurality of feed-slots 4 and 4 forfeed-dogs 5 and 6, and a transverse needle-slot 7 for a verticallyreciprocatory and laterally vibratory needle 8. The rear wall of theneedle-slot is partly cut away to Serial No. 551,113.

provide a generally V-shaped thread-clearance recess or depression 9 inthe upper face of the throat-plate, which depression is inclineddownwardly toward the needle-slot 7 from its pointed end remote fromsaid needle-slot.

Disposed in spaced relation above said recess 9 is a chaining-off finger10, extending across the needle-slot 7 and having its upper surfacepreferably substantially flush with the upper face of the throat-plate,the under side of said finger being inclined upwardly toward its pointedfree end terminating rearwardly of the path of the needle 8. Thechaining-0E finger 10 is preferably formed integral with a ridgedfabric-margin supporting member 11, whose crest 12 is disposed centrallyof and parallel with the line of scam formation and terminates inadvance of the needle-slot 7 in a downwardly inclined surface 13 merginginto the upper face of the chaining-01f finger. The member 11 isremovably disposed in a recess 14 formed in the upper face of thethroat-plate in front of the needle-slot and between the adjacent frontfeed-slots 4 and 4, said member being secured to the throat-plate byscrews 15.

The feed-dog 5 operates through the feedslots 4, and the feed-dog 6through the feedslot 4 and the front end of the feed-slot 4 adjacent tosaid slot 4, as will be more clear- 1y understood from a more completedisclosure of the feeding mechanism in my before mentioned prior patentapplication Serial No. 456,380. The feed-dogs are preferably capable ofdifierential work-advancing movements, whereby the margin of a bodymaterial atone side of the margin-supporting member 11 may, if desired,be advanced faster than the margin of the body material disposed at theopposite side of said member.

Yieldingly opposed to the feed-dogs is a presser-foot including adjacentfoot-plates or shoes 16 and 17 preferably capable of yielding verticallyindependently of each 'downwardly underneath the presser-foot.

other and of a chain-controlling or auxiliary foot 18 disposed betweenthe heels of the foot-plates 16, 17 and directly rearwardly of theneedle-path. The foot-plates 16 and 17 are spaced from each otherbeginning from the upturned toes thereof to provide a fabricmarginreceiving slot 19 which terminates at a point directly in front of theneedle-path, at which point the adjacent edges of the footplates curveinwardly into abutting relation, whereby the fabric margins are directedThe presser-foot is preferably so disposed with respect to thethroat-plate that the crest 12 of the fabric-margin supporting memberrises substantially centrally of the presserfoot slot 19.

i The fabric-margins upturned in the press? er-foot slot 19 arepreferably trimmedcby a.

mechanism including a horizontally disposed ledger-blade 20 and'ahorizontally vibratory cutting blade 21, of which the latter may bevibrated by any suitable mechanism. The trimmer-blades are disposed inrecessed guard-blocks 22 and 23 secured upon the footplates 16-and 17,said guard-blocks together providing a diverting surface 24 forinitially deflecting the trimmed-off margins away from the needle-pathandto a diverter-blade 25 which completes the deflection of saidtrimmed-0E margins. The diverter-blade is so supported that it may beswung into and out of operative position, being illustrated in itsthrow-out position in Fig. 1 of the drawit will be understood from theforegoing description that'in the present machine the fabric-margins,which are upturned in the slot 19 between the presser-foot plates 16,17, are supported by the ridged member 11 as said margins are advancedby the feeddogs 5 and 6 to trimming position. After being trimmed,thebody-material margins are directed downwardly by the presser-foot alongthe inclined surface 13 of saidmemher into abutting or slightly"overlapping relationship upon the wider portion or base of the chainng-off finger 10, where'the laterally vibrating needle alternatelypenetrates the adjacent fabric-margins and in cooperation with anysuitable loop-taker mechanism unites saidadjacent margins by zigzagstitches. Inasmuch as the stitches embrace the finger 10, whichconstitutes a continuation of the crested or ridged member 11, there isa minimum of tendency to distortthe fabricmargins by the setting of thestitches, which latter are free to slide'oif the tapered finger lOby theprovision of the throat-plate depression 9 below said finger. ihepresent construction furthermore provides for chaining-off, thethread-chain being controlled by the auxiliary foot'18 and ing-ofi'finger and bydetachably securing said member upon the throat-plate, theprocess of manufacture is materially simplified and the cost ofconstruction and replacement is materially reduced.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis 1. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocatory needle, feeding mechanism, a throat-plate,presser means opposed to the throat-plate having spaced work-engagingtoes between which upturned margins of material are adapted to passtoward the stitching point, a ridged fabric-margin supporting memberhaving a crest which extends lengthwise and substantially centrally 0fthe line of seam within the space between said toes, and terminates in achaining-01f finger, and means for detachably securing saidfabric-margin supporting member upon the throat-plate with its crestabove the upper surface of the throat-plate and its chainingolf fingerprojecting rearwardly beyond the path of the needle. a

2. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocatory needle, feeding mechanism, a throat-platehaving a needle-slot elongated crosswise of the line of seam formationand integral with said member, and means for 1 detachably securing thefabric-margin supporting member upon" the throat-plate with itschaining-off finger overlying said throatplate recess in spaced relationthereto.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. I

FREDERIO. M. CAB-D.

a section of the feed-dog 1 opposed thereto.

By providing the member 11 withthe chain-

